# US 10,479,175 B1 · Method and apparatus for a tarpaulin fastening system

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- Number: US 10,479,175 B1
- Document ID: US10479175B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 16/360,875
- Filed: 2019-03-21
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-20
- Assignees: Royer Ent., LLC
- Applicants: Royer Ent., LLC
- Inventors: Rad Allen Royer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479175B1

## CPC

- B60J 7/064: {using folding arms sliding in longitudinal tracks for supporting the soft roof}
- B60P 7/04: by tarpaulins or like flexible members
- B60J 7/065: {for utility vehicles}
- F16H 19/06: comprising {flexible members, e.g. an} endless flexible member
- B60J: WINDOWS, WINDSCREENS, NON-FIXED ROOFS, DOORS, OR SIMILAR DEVICES FOR VEHICLES; REMOVABLE EXTERNAL PROTECTIVE COVERINGS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES (fastening, suspending, closing, or opening of such devices E05)
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A tarpaulin fastening device includes a support frame for support of one or more winch/spool assemblies and associated interconnecting line cord. The interconnecting line cord is extracted/retracted from/to its respective winch/spool assembly through actuation of a gear assembly. The interconnecting line cord is woven through eyelets of one or more connection pins and terminated with an anchoring mechanism. Once extracted from the winch/spool assembly, the interconnecting line cord is anchored to a flatbed trailer using the anchor mechanism and each connection pin is alternatingly connected to connection points along a length of tarp covering a payload supported by the flatbed and to connection points along a length of the flatbed trailer. Once the interconnecting line cord is anchored and connected to the tarp and flatbed, the tarp is secured onto the payload by actuation of the gear assembly.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of fastening a tarp to a payload, comprising:
supporting a payload with a flatbed trailer;
covering the payload with a tarp;
removably coupling a tarp fastening device to the flatbed trailer;
arranging a plurality of connection pins along a length of a line cord of the tarp fastening device;
connecting each of the plurality of connection pins to respective connection points along the flatbed trailer and the tarp, wherein the line cord is not in direct contact with the connection points; and
actuating a gear assembly of the tarp fastening device to create tension on the line cord to fasten the tarp onto the payload.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein connecting each of the plurality of connection pins includes connecting a first plurality of connection pins to respective D-Rings of the tarp.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein connecting each of the plurality of connection pins further includes connecting a second plurality of connection pins to a rubrail of the flatbed trailer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein connecting the second plurality of connection pins to the rubrail includes using a clamping force of the second plurality of connection pins to maintain a position of the second plurality of connection pins to the rubrail.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein actuating the gear assembly includes manually rotating a driving lug of a driving gear to rotate a main gear.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein manually rotating the driving lug includes rotating the driving lug using a lug wrench.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein manually rotating the driving lug includes rotating the driving lug using a power socket wrench.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein actuating the gear assembly includes electrically rotating a driving gear to rotate a main gear.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein actuating the gear assembly shortens a length of the line cord that is extracted from the tarp fastening device to create the tension.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein removably coupling the tarp fastening device to the flatbed trailer includes mounting the tarp fastening device right-side up in a stake pocket of the flatbed trailer.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein removably coupling the tarp fastening device to the flatbed trailer includes actuating a latching mechanism to maintain a position of the tarp fastening device within a stake pocket of the flatbed trailer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein removably coupling the tarp fastening device to the flatbed trailer includes actuating a locking pin to maintain a position of the tarp fastening device within a stake pocket of the flatbed trailer.